Report: Christian, Boston College Finalizing Deal

By

Seth Austin

Kelsie Rinard

Matthew Doyle

Dateline

Athens, OH

Updated Thu, Apr 3, 2014 12:38 pm

Update Thursday 12:28 p.m. Fox Sports Ohio's Zac Jackson reports that Ohio head coach Jim Christian and Boston College are "'close' to finalizing deal to make Christian new BC coach." Jackson elaborated to say that the deal could be "possibly done later today."

Christian's name surfaced Monday when Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel tweeted the Ohio head coach was a "legitimate candidate" for the opening.

Christian was hired two years ago today by Ohio University to be their head basketball coach. In two seasons with the Bobcats, Christian went 49-22.

Update 3:58 p.m. ESPN's Jeff Goodman went on the SVP & Russillo show on ESPN Radio and said that the next domino to fall in the college basketball head coaching search is that Jim Christian is "probably going to get Boston College."

"The next thing that's probably going to fall is Jim Christian is probably going to get Boston College."

Ajerseyguy.com's Mark Blaudschun, who retracted his story earlier Wednesday on Jim Christian becoming the Boston College head coach, tweeted, "It LOOKS like Christian will be the BC coach. But at BC, it's not over until its over. ‪http://ajerseyguy.com"

Update 3:13 p.m. The Buffalo News reported Tuesday that Jim Christian is a client of Eddie Fogler who is leading Boston College's seach for a new head coach. Fogler was contacted by WOUB but refused to comment.

Update 1:21 p.m. Former South Carolina head basketball coach Eddie Fogler is leading the search firm looking for Boston College's next head coach. Florida Gulf Coast head coach Joe Dooley has South Carolina ties serving as an assistant coach for the Gamecocks from 1988 until 1991. Fogler also coached at Wichita State from 1986 to 1989. Ohio University Athletic Director Jim Schaus joined Ohio after almost nine years in Wichita from 1999 until 2008.

Update 11:27 a.m. Dana Caldwell of the Naples Daily News reports Florida Gulf Coast head coach Joe Dooley is "dismissive" with regards to the open head coaching position at Boston College.

"I don't know much about the situation. I'm happy here. I don't think about stuff that's not real, to tell you the truth. Throughout the years, my name has been mentioned with a lot of jobs and it's not been a reality. If I'd interviewed and spent time on all these jobs that I have been talked about, I wouldn't have had time to do my job."

Caldwell also reports Florida Gulf Coast Athletic Director Ken Kavanagh says he knows nothing and is "nothing more than a rumor" to him.

Update 9:36 a.m. Ajerseyguy.com's Mark Blaudschun has posted a correction and apology to reporting Jim Christian as Boston College's next head coach.

Update Wednesday 9:28 a.m. Mark Blaudschun of ajerseyguy.com is reporting Boston College has settled on Jim Christian as their next head coach. ESPN's Jeff Goodman tweeted Wednesday morning that BC "has not offered Jim Christian the job yet, but signs [point] towards that direction."

Update 2:28 p.m. An updated list of possible candidates for the Boston College head coaching job include Jim Christian, Joe Dooley (Florida Gulf Coast), Pat Skerry (Towson), and Tim O'Shea (Bryant). O'Shea coached Ohio from 2002 to 2008 with an overall record of 120-95. He played his college hoops at Boston College from 1980 until 1984.

According to ESPN's Jeff Goodman, Dooley is also now a leading candidate. Dooley coached at Kansas as an assistant from 2003 until 2013.

Update 1:15 p.m. According to the Boston Globe and ESPN, Christian could be considered a frontrunner for the Boston College opening. WOUB sources also have confirmed Christian has interviewed for the job and may have interviewed by phone.

According to Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel, Ohio Coach Jim Christian is considered to be a “legit candidate” for the Boston College open coaching position.

Christian, 49, interviewed with BC earlier in the week, but according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman he was not offered the job but "is heavily in the mix."

Christian told the Athens Messanger's Jason Arkley he had no direct comment on the Boston College opening.

I'm not going to comment on that job or any job. If you do that, then you have to comment on every job that comes up.

More from story:

I love, love my job here. I will say this: I have not - in any way, shape or form - actively pursued any other jobs.

Also according to Arkley, Ohio Athletic Director Jim Schaus refused to comment on the situation.

Other recent front-runners for the position included Syracuse coach-in-waiting Mike Hopkins and St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt. However, sources said both are no longer under consideration.

Christian recently finished his second season as coach for the Ohio Bobcats with a 25-12 (11-7 MAC) record with the Cat’s exiting the CollegeInsider.com Tournament on a 92-90 loss to VMI. Overall in his two years, Christian has led the Green and White to a record of 49-22 (25-9 MAC), and two post-season appearances.

Boston College is looking to replace former head coach Steve Donahue who was fired in March after compiling a record of 54-76 in four seasons.

Christian has ties to Boston after playing two years at Boston University before transferring to Rhode Island. If he does land the deal, it will leave the Bobcats in
search of a new coach after graduating its winningest class in program history.